Monday reading: Look at where Dabo Swinney is now

Associated PressDabo Swinney's Clemson team whipped rival South Carolina on Saturday to assure he would retain the job for good.

Shelby County native and former Alabama receiver and assistant coach Dabo Swinney has turned his interim coaching gig at Clemson into a full-time job, according to numerous reports this morning from the Palmetto State.

To me, this is one of the better stories of the college football season. Swinney is one the friendliest, most excitable guys you could ever meet in the coaching business.

Ivan Maisel has this story for ESPN.com, while here is the local angle from beat writer Greg Wallace of the Anderson Independent Mail. ...

"I've prepared for this my whole life," Swinney said. "I know I'm only 39, but I feel like I'm 59. You coach at Alabama and Clemson, you can do some dog years in a heartbeat. I have no doubts I can do this job. I have confidence.

"I didn't have any doubts when I walked on at Alabama at 165 (pounds) that I could play there. That's me. That's my makeup. That's my DNA."

And if you want a really good story on Swinney, look at Larry Williams' free piece for TigerIllustrated.com. Williams, you may remember, was the beat writer earlier this season at the Charleston newspaper.

More on the title game ...

- Today's Press-Register story from Tuscaloosa focuses on the contrasting styles between Alabama and Florida. ...

In a statistic that should concern even the most optimistic Alabama fan, Florida is averaging almost 54 points through its past seven games. The Gators have outgained opponents 5,393 to 3,308 this season, including a 2,845-1,233 edge on the ground.

"Their style of offense is a little bit different than anything we've seen," said Saban, adding, "It's just so many more options and dimensions. ... You need to have a defensive back covering them when they are playing receiver ... but then when (they are at) running back, you would like to have some bigger guys in there to make sure they can't run with the ball. And you can't have both."

- Florida speedster Percy Harvin is questionable for Saturday's game with a knee injury. The same goes for Alabama tailback Roy Upchurch and his hurting neck. Get updates in my notebook today.

He even professed that this is "one of my favorites of all time in terms of guys to coach."

High praise from a coach who loathes comparisons.

"I think everybody cares. Everybody cares," he said. "That's the most important thing about this team."

- Former Auburn coach Pat Dye picks Alabama to win, per this story on the Legends Poll in the Sporting News' online edition. ...

"Alabama will win with their defense," said Dye. "Everyone gets carried away with scoring points. But Alabama is a great defensive football team. They have a sound, solid kicking game with their offense being able to score enough points. Look at their game against Auburn -- only one penalty for 4 yards and no turnovers."

There are even bigger concerns for Florida in the defensive line, where tackle Matt Patchan is out for the rest of the season after it was learned that he has a torn MCL in left knee. Patchan had missed the last two games against The Citadel and Florida State.

Meyer said tackle Brandon Antwine is doubtful for the game after spraining his knee against the Seminoles. Antwine was starting for Lawrence Marsh, who wasn't 100 percent with a knee sprain, but did play some in the game.

- And finally, in news that has Saban's fingerprints all over it, Fresno State coach Pat Hill (a friend of the blog and of Saban's) interviewed Saturday for the open head coaching job at Washington, Hill tells the Fresno Bee in this story. UW's president is formerly of LSU, which means he's also tight with Saban.

My professional opinion is this is one to watch, Alabama fans. If Hill goes, guess who is already being mentioned in Fresno as a replacement: That's right.